Materials handling container

ABSTRACT

A container for industrial material handling including bottom and side walls with nether skid means, and a removable top wall or cover having reinforcing means on its upper side which are interengageable with the skid means of an additional, superposed container to distribute downward load to the container side wall.

United States Patent Pirie Oct. 21, 1975 [54] MATERIALS HANDLINGCONTAINER 2,761.582 9/1956 Moore 206/508 [76] Inventor: James E. Pirie,1404 Bayview Ave., Bamegat h1g1", 08006 3,677,436 7 1972 Danielson220/69 [22] Filed: Oct. 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-George E. Lowrance PP-z 403,176 Attorney, Agent, or FirmRobert K. Youtie [52 US. (:1.206/508; 206/509; 206/511 ABSTRACT [51] Int. Cl? B65D 21/02 A containerfor industrial material handling including [58] Field of Search 206/508,509, 510, 511, bottom and side walls with nether skid means, and a206/512, 5.3 removable top wall or cover having reinforcing means on itsupper side which are interengageable with the [56] References Cited skidmeans of an additional, superposed container to U E STATES PATENTSdistribute downward load to the container side wall.

1,898,509 2/1933 Taylor 206/508 9 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures U.S. PatentOct. 21, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,913,741

MATERIALS HANDLING CONTAINER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION While therehave, in the past, been provided containers for industrial materialshandling, such containers have not been entirely satisfactory, beingdefective in one or more respects, such as being unduly costly, subjectto rapid deterioration, requiring excessive space when not in use, oflimited utilization with conventional materials handling equipment, andfor other reasons well known to those versed in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an important object of thepresent invention to provide a container construction particularly welladapted for use in industrial materials handling, which overcomes theabove-mentioned difficulties, is extremely strong and durable throughouta long useful life while being of minimum weight and reasonable cost,nests to occupy a minimum of space when, not in use, and is highlyversatile for utilization with an extremely wide range of conventionalmaterials handling equipment, which utilization is effectively speededup and simplified by unique structural features of the instant device.

It is a more particular object of the present invention to provide acontainer having the advantageous characteristics mentioned in thepreceding paragraph, wherein relatively heavily loaded containers may bestacked to substantial heights without requiring excessive wallthicknesses and container weights by improvements in gravity loadtransmission and distribution.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide aunique container construction of the type described wherein containersmay be superposed one on the other in a more rapid and less expensivemanner by means of automatic self-locating features which insureproperly accurate stacking with only approximate location by anoperator.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon readingthe following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings,which form a material part of this disclosure.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combinations of elements, and arrangements of parts, which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope will be indicated by the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top perspective viewshowing a container constructed in accordance with the teachings of thepresent invention, partly broken away for clarity of understanding.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view showing the underside of an uppercontainer and the upper side of a lower container to illustrate thecooperating relationship in stacking, while a lowermost container isshown in phantom in stacked condition.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating an intermediatestage of a stacking operation in use of the instant containers.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the containers ofFIG. 2, as taken along the line 4-4 of FIG. 6

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 5, but showinganother slightly modified embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top plan view showing a further embodiment of containerconstructed in accordance with the instant teachings.

FIG. 8 is a bottom plan view showing the modification of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic bottom plan view similar to FIG. 8,illustrating in phantom the cooperating relationship of a next lowercontainer in one mode of stackmg.

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan view similar to FIG. 9, but illustrating analternative mode of stacking.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now moreparticularly to the drawings, and specifically to FIG. 1 thereof, acontainer or receptacle is there generally designated 20, and includes anormally generally horizontal bottom wall 21, and an upstandingperipheral side wall 22 circumferentially about the bottom wall. Thebottom wall 21 may be of polygonal or rectangular configuration, asillustrated, or other suitable configuration, and the side wall 22 mayhave upstanding side wall portions 23 extending along respective sideedges of the bottom wall 21, the side wall portions 23 being connectedtogether in edgeto-edge relation with each other, as along meeting edgesor corners 24.

Provided on the underside of and depending beneath the container bottomwall 21 are elongate members, runners or skids 26. The skid means 26 areadapted for supporting engagement with a nether ground surface,affording clearance for entry beneath-the bottom wall 21 of handlingforks, and otherwise important in practice of the instant invention, aswill appear more fully hereinafter.

Thus, the peripheral side wall 22 upstands from and extendscircumferentially about the peripheral or bounding edge 27 of the bottomwall 21 and terminates at its upper extremity in a circumferentiallyextending upper margin or edge 28. Resting removably on the upper sidewall extremity or edge 28 is a generally flat top wall or cover 30. Thetop wall or cover 30 may be of an outline configuration to conformablyoverlie the bottom wall 21, the top wall having a peripheral edge 31extending entirely along and about the side wall upper edge 28. Further,extending circumferentially about the top wall 30, along the peripheraledge 31, and depending therefrom, is a cover flange or retainer 32. Thatis, the cover or top wall 30 is retained in position resting on theupper extremity 28 of side wall 22, against horizontal displacement, bylimiting engagement of the cover flange 32 with the side wall. Providedon the upper side of the cover 30, projecting upwardly therefrom, are aplurality of reinforcements, cleats or ribs 33, the structure andfunction of which will be presented hereinafter in greater detail.

While the material of which the instant container 20 is fabricated isnot critical, it has been found advantageous to employ fiberglassreinforced plastic, say for the bottom and side walls 21 and 22, and topwall 30. Further, the skid means 26 and reinforcement means 33 have beenadvantageously fabricated of wood encapsulated in fiberglass reinforcedplastic. Of course, wood, metal, plastic, combinations thereof, or othersuitablematerialsmay be employed, as desired, without departing from theteachings of the instant inventlon.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the reinforcements, ribs or cleats 33 mayeach be of elongate configuration, say having a constant cross-sectionthroughout its length, and extending between a pair of spaced marginalor edge regions of the top wall, as. between spaced regions of top walledge 31. In the illustrated embodiment, the reinforcements or ribs 33are four in number, but may be otherwise, and each extends obliquely ordiagonally between adjacent sides of the polygonal top wall. Thereinforcements or ribs 33 of the preferred embodiment are separate andspaced from each other, but may be arranged to meet, intersect, orotherwise, as will appear presently. Further, each of thereinforcements, ribs or cleats 33 is formed with one surface or sidefacing obliquely upwardly, as at 35, its opposite surface beinggenerally upright or approximately normal to the top wall 30,as at 36,and its upper surface or top 37 defining a generally horizontal landextending between the upper edges of oblique and upright surfaces35 and36. In the illustrated embodiment the several reinforcements, ribs orcleats 33 are arranged in generally quadrilateral or rectilinearrelation, and the oblique or inclined surfaces 35 are disposed inwardlytoward each other, with the upright or normal surfaces 36 disposedoutwardly or away from each other. Of course, this relationship may bevaried, as desired, within the scope of the instant invention.

Considering the skids or supports 26 in greater detail, as in FIGS. 2and 4, it will there be seen that the skids 26 are defined by a pair ofgenerally parallel, elongate members or runners extending along theunderside of the bottom wall 21. The skids or runners 26 are eachprovided with downwardly facing recesses or cavities 27, which may bedefined by open ended grooves extending transversely across therespective skid or runner. The recesses or downwardly facing grooves 27are oriented to receive respective reinforcing means or ribs 33 of anext lower container when the containers are superposed or stacked ingenerally congruent relation one above the other, as seen in FIG. 2.

Thus, the recesses or grooves 40 and reinforcing means or ribs 33 areoriented for conformably interfitting engagement with respect to eachother. Further, the recesses or grooves 27 are each provided with anobliquely downwardly facing or inclined side surface 41, and a generallyupright or verticalside surface 42 in spaced facing relation with thesurface 41. A generally downwardly facing under or soffet surface 43extends between the side surfaces 41 and 42, being spaced upwardly apredetermined distance from the lowermost or under surface 44 of therespective skid 26.

Thus, it will now be appreciated that the grooves or recesses 40 areconfigured and arranged with respect to the reinforcements or ribs 33 todefine interfitting formations therewith. Further, with containers 20stacked one upon the other and their recesses 40 and reinforcements 33in their interfitting relation, see F IG. 4, it will be understood thatthe height of generally vertical or normal rib surfaces 36 is greaterthan the height of generally vertical or normal groove surfaces 42.Thus, the received rib 33 has its upwardly facing top surface or land 37in bearing engagement with the downwardly facing or soffet surface 43 ofthe receiving groove 40. This is best seen in FIG. 4, from which it willappear that the top wall or cover 30 is spaced below the underside 44 ofthe skid 26. In this manner, the weight or load of the upper container20 is transmitted only to. the several reinforcements or ribs 33 of thenext lower container, and not to the cover'thereof. Further, as the ribs33 of the supporting container 20 extend along the. carrying cover tothe edge regions thereof, the weight; or, load is transmitted from eachreinforcement or rib. through its end portions to the underlying regionsof 3 side wall 22, so that the side wall carries the load rather thanthe cover.

It will be readily appreciated that the generally vertical or uprightsurfaces 36 of the ribs 33 are located in adjacent facing relation withthe generally upright or vertical surfaces 42 of respective grooves 40,so that shifting or relative horizontal displacement between stackedcontainers is effectively limited by positive engagement between suchfacing surfaces. Further, the

facing relationship between the oblique, downwardlyv facing internalsurface 41 of each groove 40 with the respective obliquely upwardlyfacing external surface 35 of the respective nb 33 serves a unique:self-locating function. For example, asseen in FIG. 3, wherein an uppercontainer is placed on a lower container in ap-. proximate but not quiteproper alignment,the oblique surfaces 41 and 35 will slidably engagewith each other to shift the upper container to a proper alignedposition, as in FIG. 4. More specifically, in the illustration of FIG.3, it will there be apparent that the upper container 20 will shiftrightward relative to the lower container 20. Indeed, in the illustratedembodiment of FIGS. l4, it has been found that there is sufiicientselflocating action to cause the upper container to shift rotatively,and thereby compensate for angulate errors in placement of containersone upon the other.

While the, hereinbefore described embodiment illustrated theinterfitting formations of ribs 33 and grooves 40 as each having anoblique and an upright surface, to achieve the described self-locatingaction and positive resistance to shifting, it is appreciated that theseformations may assume different configurations, if desired.

For example, in FIG. 5 it is shown a reinforcement or rib 33a whereinopposite side surfaces 350 and 36a are both generally upright orvertical, terminating in a gen-,

erally horizontal bearing surface or land 37a. Conform-- ably; thereceiving groove 40a has its opposite side sur. faces 41a and 42agenerally vertical, while its down-' wardly facing bearing surface 43ais generally horizontal for bearing engagement with the ribland 37a. Of

course, the self-locating action of such interfitting formations isminimal or nonexistent, while the positive holdingor anti-shiftingaction is maximum.

A further embodiment is shownin FIG. 6 wherein a I rib, reinforcement orcleat 33b has both opposite sides.

obliquely inclined and facing upwardly, as at 35b and l 36b, its uppersurface, or land 37b extending horizon- I tally between the obliquesides. The receiving groove 40b has its opposite sides 41b and 42b bothobliquely ative to a lower container is considerably increased so as toaccommodate for a much greater range of inaccurate handling. However,the resistance to relative shifting of stacked containers is reduced.

A further embodiment of the instant invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7and 8, the top plan view of FIG. 7 showing a container 23, andillustrating its cover 30c having on the upper surface thereof a pair ofparallel spaced reinforcements, ribs or cleats 33c. The reinforcementsor ribs 330 may extend entirely across the cover 30c between oppositeedges 250, being spaced intermediate the opposite edges 29c.Additionally, the reinforcements, ribs or cleats 330 may be eachprovided with a pair of branch reinforcements or ribs 340, which mayextend normal to the primary reinforcements 33c, and parallel to eachother and the cover edges c. The cross-sectional configuration of thereinforcements or ribs 33c and the branch reinforcements or branch ribs34c may be as shown in FIGS. 1-4, 5 or 6, as desired.

The underside of container 20c is shown in FIG. 8, there being seen thebottom wall 21c, about which extends the peripheral side wall 22c.Provided on the underside of the bottom wall 21c, in parallel spacedrelation there below, are skids or runners 26c, each provided with apair of downwardly facing recesses 40c, such as open ended grooves,having a cross-sectional configuration for conformable interfittingrelation with the reinforcements or ribs 33c and 34c.

Thus, a plurality of containers 20c may be stacked one upon the other inaccordance with the teachings of the present invention, as byinterfitting relation of the reinforcements or ribs 33c received intorecesses or grooves 40c. Also, stacking of the containers 20c may beachieved in the manner shown in FIG. 8, wherein the branchreinforcements or ribs 34c are respectively received in grooves 40c. Ineither relationship the gravitational force or load of the uppercontainer is transmitted to the reinforcement means or ribs 33c and 34cfor distribution thereby to the side walls 22c of the lower container,in the same manner as the first described embodiment. While thereinforcements or ribs 34c are shown as branching from reinforcements orribs 33c, it is appreciated that they may extend completely across thecover c in the same manner as ribs 33c, intersecting with the latter, ifdesired.

From the foregoing it is seen that the present invention provides acontainer construction for industrial material handling which isextremely simple in structure, economical in initial and continuingcosts, durable and reliable throughout a long useful life, and whichotherwise fully accomplishes its intended objects.

Although the present invention has been described in some detail by wayof illustration and example for purposes of clarity of understanding, itis understood that certain changes and modifications may be made withinthe spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A container comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wallupstanding circumferentially about said bottom wall, skid meansdepending from the underside of said bottom wall for supportingengagement with a nether surface, a top wall spaced over said bottomwall and gravitationally resting removably on the upper edge of saidside wall, and reinforcing ribs carried by said top wall on the upperside thereof and extending between spaced regions of said top walllocated over and resting on nether spaced upper edge regions of saidside wall, said reinforcing ribs and skid means being located so thatthe skid means of an additional identical container superposed over saidtop wall rests only on said reinforcing ribs and not on said top wall todistribute the entire weight of said additional container through saidribs to said side wall, so that said top wall does not carry appreciableload except through said ribs.

2. A container according to claim 1, said bottom wall being generallypolygonal, said side wall includinga plurality'of angularly spaced sidewall portions, and said side wall upper edge regions being located indifferent side wall portions.

3. A container according to claim 1, said ribs comprising at least oneobliquely upwardly facing surface, and said skid means comprising atleast one obliquely downwardly facing surface, said upwardly anddownwardly facing surfaces being located for facing engagement togravitationally shift said additional container vertically andhorizontally relative to said top wall.

4. A container according to claim 1, said skid and ribs havinginterfitting formations for properly locating said additionalcontainerrelative to said top wall.

5. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formationsincluding generally upright surfaces engageable to limitrelativehorizontal movement.

6. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formationsincluding oblique surfaces engageable for gravitationally shifting saidadditional container to a stable position relative to said top wall.

7. A container according to claim 4, said interfitting formations beingdefined by a downwardly facing groove in the underside of said skidmeans, and the configuration of said ribs, for conforming interfittingrelation between said ribs and grooves.

side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wallportions, said top wall being geometrically similar to said bottom wall,and said ribs extending between spaced edge locations of spaced top walledges.

1. A container comprising a bottom wall, a peripheral side wallupstanding circumferentially about said bottom wall, skid meansdepending from the underside of said bottom wall for supportingengagement with a nether surface, a top wall spaced over said bottomwall and gravitationally resting removably on the upper edge of saidside wall, and reinforcing ribs carried by said top wall on the upperside thereof and extending between spaced regions of said top walllocated over and resting on nether spaced upper edge regions of saidside wall, said reinforcing ribs and skid means being located so thatthe skid means of an additional identical container superposed over saidtop wall rests only on said reinforcing ribs and not on said top wall todistribute the entire weight of said additional container through saidribs to said side wall, so that said top wall does not carry appreciableload except through said ribs.
 2. A container according to claim 1, saidbottom wall being generally polygonal, said side wall including aplurality of angularly spaced side wall portions, and said side wallupper edge regions being located in different side wall portions.
 3. Acontainer according to claim 1, said ribs comprising at least oneobliquely upwardly facing surface, and said skid means comprising atleast one obliquely downwardly facing surface, said upwardly anddownwardly facing surfaces being located for facing engagement togravitationally shift said additional container vertically andhorizontally relative to said top wall.
 4. A container according toclaim 1, said skid and ribs having interfitting formations for properlylocating said additional container relative to said top wall.
 5. Acontainer according to claim 4, said interfitting formations includinggenerally upright surfaces engageable to limit relative horizontalmovement.
 6. A container according to claim 4, said interfittingformations including oblique surfaces engageable for gravitationallyshifting said additional container to a stable position relative to saidtop wall.
 7. A container according to claim 4, said interfittingformations being defined by a downwardly facing groove in the undersideof said skid means, and the configuration of said ribs, for conforminginterfittinG relation between said ribs and grooves.
 8. A containeraccording to claim 7, said bottom wall being generally polygonal, saidside wall including a plurality of angularly spaced side wall portions,said side wall upper edge regions being located in different side wallportions, said top wall being geometrically similar to said bottom wall,and said ribs extending between spaced edge locations of adjacent topwall edges.
 9. A container according to claim 7, said bottom wall beinggenerally polygonal, said side wall including a plurality of angularlyspaced side wall portions, said side wall upper edge regions beinglocated in different side wall portions, said top wall beinggeometrically similar to said bottom wall, and said ribs extendingbetween spaced edge locations of spaced top wall edges.